Bangladesh and concern about workers - we live in a global village.

The tragic death of more than 1100 people, mostly garment workers, in the April 24th collapse of Rana Plaza on the outskirts of Dhaka in Bangladesh has brought home in many ways how closely we are all tied together on our planet.  Firms from North America, including Loblaws in Canada, were importing clothing manufactured in this building.  The building collapse and the deaths were a shock to us.  In particular, for us, the fact that our daughter in law's parents Mohamed and Nasrin (below with Naomi) are Canadian who were born in Bangladesh means that we feel more closely linked to Bangladesh than before Tom and Nadine were married.  

It is good to learn that the people in Bangladesh are taking this building collapse very seriously and that measures are being taken to signal to landlords that inadequate care and use of buildings like this one are not acceptable.  It is also good that many companies which purchase garments made in Bangladesh are working to improve conditions for workers in Bangladesh.  There is a long way to go to achieve better safety standards and better working conditions, but each step along the way represents progress. 

Naomi with Mohamed and Nasrin on a recent visit to Niagara Falls together over the Easter weekend earlier this year. 

And we loved our visit together to Niagara Falls (below) 

Evelyn Forget highlights growing gap in health and health care between those with low incomes in Manitoba and the rest of Manitoba

Evelyn Forget, in a Forum organized by the Canadian Medical Association in Calgary on April 23rd, highlighted the growing gap in Manitoba between those on low incomes and the rest of the province.  The results are directly relevant to the low marks Manitoba received today in a Conference Board report Paving the Road to Higher Performance:  Benchmarking Provincial Health Systems. 

First, to review the Conference Board Report, Manitoba, overall, received a D which is the lowest possible mark, for Health, Health Care and Wellness.  Major reasons for Manitoba's low marks were very low marks (D) on Life Expectancy and Perceived Health Status and on on the Incidence of Disease in Manitoba.
Life Expectancy for Manitobans included life expectancy at birth, life expectancy at age 65, infant mortality and potential years of life lost with Manitoba getting D's on three of these four.   The Incidence of Disease assessed diabetes, mood disorder, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, newly reported HIV cases, chlamydia, high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute myocardial infarction.  Manitoba received D's on three of these - mood disorders, chlamydia and asthma.  A major reason for these low marks is the high incidence of many of these diseases among those on low incomes.

The Conference Board Report also rated Manitoba poorly on access to health care (long wait times in many areas), and in continuity of care (too often Manitobans needed to change physicians, went to providers who did not have medical records available etc.)   The poor marks in these areas may explain, in part the poor health care and the poor health of those with low incomes.

For more on this report see http://www.conferenceboard.ca/temp/3d120f23-ce39-4f39-bce9-f07bc72ff08d/13-305_provhealthbenchmarking_cashc.pdf

Evelyn Forget talked about the growing gap between the health of those on low incomes in Manitoba.  She said that working in Winnipeg and at the Health Sciences Centre "a lot of what we are treating are the consequences of poverty."  She went on to talk about  the fact that on many indices and in many areas of health those who are in the lowest socio-economic status have worsening trends instead of improving trends. For example premature mortality (people who die before age 75) in Winnipeg is "falling for all except the poorest 20 per cent of Winnipeggers."   She mentioned also that the measure of "potential years of life lost is getting worse for the poorest 20 per cent of Winnipeggers."  In her comments, Evelyn Forget  emphasized that for "Almost anything you look at the rates are appallingly large for the poorest 20 per cent of Winnipeggers relative to the other 80 per cent."

For more on Evelyn Forget's comments see the video of the full forum at: http://www.cpac.ca/eng/programs/conversation-macleans/episodes/cma-town-hall-calgary

Today I asked the Minister of Health what she was specifically going to do to improve the health and the health care for those who are of the lowest socio-economic status in Manitoba.   I will post my questions and the answers here when they are available from Hansard.

Manitoba Liberal Party Annual General Meeting is May 31 - June 1, 2013 in Brandon

The Manitoba Liberal Party  in conjunction with  The Liberal Party of Canada, Manitoba Presents  The 2013 Annual General Meeting    Friday, May  31st to Saturday, June 1st  at the Victoria Inn Hotel 3550 Victoria Avenue, Brandon Early Bird Registration Rates Accepted Until  Friday, May 24th at 5:00 p.m. at Molgat Place either in person (635 Broadway), by email manager@manitobaliberals.ca or phone at 204-988-9380       Programming this year includes a exciting assortment of both Provincial and Federal panels  including: Provincial Policy Justice Incubator The Senate Speaks Aboriginal Education - the Master Key to Prosperity for Manitoba." And Many More!

Riel House Grand Opening and yes there will be guided tours this summer

Parks Canada in partnership with the Manitoba Metis Federation and the Louis Riel Institute held the Grand Opening of Riel House to highlight that there will be guided tours at Riel House this summer.  I joined others for this announcement.

In a bold step the Manitoba Metis Federation came forward last year to ensure that there would be guided tours this year for visitors to Louis Riel House.  The Louis Riel Institute, which is responsible for Metis education in Manitoba is taking over the responsibility of the education program and the guided tours at the site for the many students who are expected and for all other visitors.  The photos below are from the announcement today.

Thoughout the rest of May and through June, the Louis Riel Institute will provide programming for grades 1-6 in both English and French.  From learning about the unique management of River lots to guided tours by interpreters in period costumes, students will have a chance to learn of the significance of Riel House and how the Riel family lived in the late 1800s.  There will be opportunities for hands on activities and dramatization of historic events of the time.

Louis Riel House - on its river lot.  There were at times, up to 12 people in Louis Riel extended family staying in Louis Riel House.  Louis Riel only stayed there briefly.

Placement in out-of-home care by CFS is ten times higher than in other countries - to the point that there is a fear of CFS among too many low income families in Manitoba

"Placement in out-of home care was ten times higher in Manitoba than in other countries."
This quote is from a very well researched scientific article published in the Lancet December 9, 2011.   A very careful analysis of the situation in Manitoba compared to other countries including the United States, Sweden, United Kingdom, New Zealand and western Australia showed that Manitoba's Child and Family Service system (CFS), under the NDP, apprehends children and takes them from their families at a far higher rate than happens in other countries.  I do not believe this is because our children or our families are worse than those in other countries, or because our families care less about our children.  

Manitoba's NDP have created a situation where there is climate of fear in Manitoba among many families who are on low incomes or who are struggling.  This climate of fear - which has been commented on at the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry - creates a situation where families are afraid to seek help from CFS because they are afraid that CFS might react by taking their children away instead of providing the support they need.  I asked a question  in question period today on this subject to the Minister of Family Services - Jennifer Howard.  My questions were as follows.

1) Mr. Speaker, various people have testified at the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry that the way the NDP runs the CFS system is deeply flawed.  CBC has reported, and I quote, “Many spoke of harbouring deep suspicions about -- if not outright fear of -- CFS.” Mr. Speaker, the CFS’s record of rampant apprehensions has created this climate of fear of CFS. When families think of CFS, they should be thinking first of the help CFS provides to keep their families together instead of the actions it might take to tear them apart.

I ask the Minister of Family Services – what specifically is she doing for vulnerable families in Manitoba to end the climate of fear of CFS

      2)  Mr. Speaker, I table information which shows the rate of child apprehensions by the CFS in  

      Manitoba under the NDP is ten times higher than other countries. Mr. Speaker, reporter James Turner 

      of the Winnipeg Sun – who follows the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry closely – writes that CFS is seen as, 

      and I quote “a gigantic government machine — “the feared child police” — which operates largely in 

      secret and appears completely unaccountable for the decisions it makes”  

I ask the Minister, what real change will she actually make to ensure CFS is an organization that primarily focuses on supporting children and families instead of being hated and feared by so many vulnerable people?

3) Mr. Speaker , the current CFS model sees its primary role as apprehension, but the primary focus should be helping children and families as it is in many other areas of the world.  The Minister of Family Services must make the changes to the CFS system so that apprehension is the last alternative after all other alternatives have been explored.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Family Services, will she admit there is a climate of fear of the CFS department and that a loving, helping individualized approach by CFS to every family needing help would be more effective?

In memory of Elijah Harper, today I questioned the NDP on their record of apprehending aboriginal children.

"What right does a government have not to allow the Indian people to take care of their own?... I myself come from a big family of 14 children. I was raised up by my grandparents. I think I was taken away before I was one year old."
— Elijah Harper speaking to fellow MLAs on June 12, 1984.

Today, I asked questions about the continuing very high numbers of children being apprehended in Manitoba and taken into care.  These questions were asked because Elijah Harper himself was very concerned about children being taken away from their families.  The replies from Greg Selinger failed to provide direct answers to these important questions.   The NDP will still not commit to raising shelter rates as asked by Make Poverty History and more than 140 other organizations in Manitoba.  The NDP will still not acknowledge there is a major problem when so many children are apprehended and taken away from their families and put into the care of Child and Family Services.  Further, the NDP will not acknowledge there is a need to address the trauma of removing a child from his or her parents and the essential importance of interrupting the cycle of trauma by ensuring that children who are taken into care are helped so that they are able to become excellent parents when they have children.

1) Mr. Speaker, I ask my questions today in memory of Elijah Harper who publicly expressed concern about Aboriginal children in Manitoba being apprehended by CFS.  Under the NDP, the number of children in care has almost doubled, to approximately 10,000 – with the majority being Aboriginal children living in poverty.  Make Poverty History Manitoba and more than 140 organizations have approached the NDP to raise the shelter rates – which would protect more children from being apprehended by CFS – yet the NDP have refused.

I ask the Minister of Family Services, will her NDP government raise the shelter rates for those on social assistance to 75 per cent of market rates?

2 Mr. Speaker, on May 26, 2005, the previous Minister of Family Services, the MLA for Riel, said that the Manitoba’s child welfare system developed out of the residential schools system, a system which apprehended so many children. Today, there are more children in Manitoba who have been apprehended by CFS than there were children in the Residential Schools System. 

I ask the Minister of Family Services, why is the NDP going down in history as apprehending and separating Aboriginal children from their families in higher numbers than were apprehended and put into Manitoba’s residential schools?

3 Mr. Speaker, recently, the former Children’s Advocate, Billie Schibler, said at the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry “children who came through the residential school system and the children who come through the child welfare system come away with the same wounds.”  We all know that apprehending a child and taking the child from its parents can be extremely traumatic to both the child and the parents.

I ask the Minister of Family Services, what is the NDP doing to end the cycle of trauma an apprehended child experiences and to provide the type of support which would ensure that child is well equipped to raise his or her own children?

Winnipeg South Region Provincial Liberal Association Meeting Tuesday May 21.

Tuesday this week, May 21, will be the regional provincial Liberal meeting for constituencies in south Winnipeg.

Location: Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Ave
Time 6:30 pm.
Meeting Chair: Bob Axworthy
Guest Speaker: Jon Gerrard on "Sales Tax and Referendum - Does the Government Listen?"

Be sure to come out and join us.

Citizens Equity Committee Youth Role Model Awards last evening

Award recipients (full list of recipients and awards below)

Kevin Chief and John Orlikow giving award to Amanda Hallett

Wendy Wang, from Kelvin High School, shows her awards with me and John Orlikow beside her 

Sappfyre McLeod saying thanks for her award.

List of Citizens Equity Committee Youth Role Model Awards and Award Recipients:
Advocacy Award: Recipients Maggie Henderson and Jess Leppik
Performing Arts Awards: Recipients Emilie Chartier and Cree-Ann Henderson
Education and Training Award: Ralu Tubenna Eze and Kelsey Lands
Community Health and Wellness Award: David Monias and Vanessa Devries
Sports Award: Matthieu Agoli-Agbo and Dakota Kotchie
Community Volunteering Award: Wendy Wang and Alison Birch
Rosalinde Navidad Cantiveros Award for Courage: Sappfyre McLeod and Amanda Hallett
Creative Arts Award: Christian Miranda and Jade Defehr

Congratulations to the Neutropenia Support Association on a very successful event Thursday.

Congratulations to all the volunteers and supporters of the Neutropenia Support Association who held their annual golf tournament and dinner this Thursday.  In the photo, I am with Janis Benzelock and Brian Gamley two of the many people who helped organize the event. 

For more about the Neutropenia Support Association see: http://manitobaliberals.blogspot.ca/2012/05/neutropenia-support-association.html

Thank you Elijah Harper for all you have done for Manitoba and for Canada

With Elijah when he visited the Legislature in 2006

It is a sad day today with the passing of Elijah Harper.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as a Member of Parliament with Elijah when we were both elected as Liberal MPs in 1993.  Elijah was an amazing person who stood up strongly for the needs of aboriginal people in Manitoba and in Canada. Elijah played a leading role in having June 21 declared National Aboriginal Day and to gain more recognition of the role of aboriginal people in our history, and the importance of aboriginal people in Canada today.  It was an honour to have served in the same caucus as Elijah.  I am sorry to learn of his passing today.  I extend condolences to his family and friends on behalf of myself, my wife Naomi and the Manitoba Liberal Party. 

Rally against homophobia and to decrease bullying in Manitoba

I joined others at the anti-homophobia rally yesterday to show my very strong support for the intent of Bill 18 to decrease bullying in Manitoba schools.   I was also at the rally to show my strong support for those in the LGBT community who have often had to suffer bullying.